The content of this blog is available to the public for a limited time.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

The significance of Figured dimensions in BIM

People taken up by the whirlwind of BIM enthusiasm tend to look at the discipline of dimensioning with fresh eyes.

Dimensions no longer need to be specified, you can take off any and from wherever you like!

Interesting idea, but can it be right?

Can one assume that 3D modelling has reached such sophistication that all tolerances, installation requirements, conditions and subtleties are reliably captured within the virtual representation of the yet to be built building?

To such an extent that any-old-user can go in, measure and apply?

If you give a blank cheque you need to anticipate people will use it, maybe even abuse it;

The above described notion is pretty scary and potentially very hazardous for the future of BIM.

While FlatCAD could go into almost n-t degree of accuracy, somehow the understanding that accuracy does not equal to taking full responsibility for buildability was retained within its processes.

What has changed since the ‘do not scale’ mantra of the drawing based documentation?

Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water when moving to BIM, examine the reasons behind various old dimensioning practices.

Software vendors need to sharpen up their programming skills to allow for meaningful 3D dimensioning and setting out.

The “do not scale” warning still has some mileage in it even within the BIM framework, bring in SMART figured dimensions!